In September, Code 7 rolled out the pink patch plan and provided each police officer in Chula Vista with new pink and silver shoulder patches.

The officers had the opportunity to wear the pink highlights on their uniform and many did. The bold look was a hit not only with the officers, but with the community too. The positive public engagement created by this opportunity affirming our support of breast cancer awareness month was a success.

Chaplain Wes Anderson and Chief Roxana Kennedy

The pink fundraiser of key rings and mini patches provided $1,500 to our local charity Loving You Through It, serving women in the midst of their battle with breast cancer. We feel very blessed to have a community that responds in generous support.

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A special Thank You to the businesses for getting us started with seed money funding our pink patch project.

On a more somber note, September had one of my most challenging moments in my 10 years as a police chaplain. I was on a ride along when an officer was attacked and stabbed by a suspect. I’m pictured below getting into the ambulance with the injured officer.

We were responding to a neighbor dispute, and while we (two officers and me) were inside a house, a man also residing there came around a corner with a knife and began stabbing one of the officers multiple times in his face, head, and arm. The officer had no choice but to pull his service weapon and shoot the victim to stop the threat on his own life. The suspect ended up dying as a result of his injuries. This type of incident is the most difficult to navigate afterward due to the ultimate outcome.

Please pray for the officer as he is in the process of recovering physically and working through the traumatic event with the help of excellent therapy/care providers. He has a very thankful heart and knows it could’ve been worse for him.

Someone made and hung this artwork in the police line up room. It’s quite nice I must say.

IN CONCLUSION

Thank you for your support of Code 7 and for helping us love on our local law enforcement. May we recognize their value and their extremely difficult job of policing and caring for our community. Without our cops holding the thin blue line firm, chaos would run free.

…I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22

We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. Romans 15:2

About The Author

Wes Anderson has more than 20 years of full-time pastoral ministry experience. He has been serving as volunteer Chaplain to the Chula Vista Police Department since 2008 and with the Citizens’ Adversity Support Team responding to crisis and trauma since 2006.

CODE 7 is an overflow of his heart’s desire to provide consistent encouragement and support to the needs of law enforcement personnel throughout their career.